Railway game apparatus.



PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907.

' J. LEARNES. RAILWAY GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1906.

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and their base frame.

JOHN J. BARNES, OF HERINGTON, KANSAS.

RAILWAY GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1907.

Application filed March 26, 1906- Serial No- 308,105-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. BARNES, citizen of the United States, residing at Herington, in the county of Dickinson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specificatlon.

My invention relates to a railroad switching puzzle, and the object of my invention is to provide for this purpose a model comprising portions of two railway tracks, each provided with a siding, and one provided with a Y together with a number of movable pieces representing cars and locomotives, which combination of parts may be used as a puzzle, a game, or an educational device. The manner in which it may be used as a puzzle is hereinafter set forth, by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the said drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of my invention,-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the tracks, the cars and locomotives being removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing two locomotives, each with several cars, upon one of the'tracks. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the tracks Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken-away top view of one of the switches. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the dotted line a-b of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken-away top view of the turn-table. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the dotted line cd of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of one of the pieces representing cars. Fig; 9 is a transverse section of one of the tracks, showing a car and the manner in which it on ages the track.- Fig. 10 is a sectional detai view showing one of the brackets 29.

Similar characters of reference denote similar parts.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, there are two straight tracks, designated 1 and 2 respectively. These tracks are connected at their respective ends by crossbars '3. Track 1 is provided with a siding 4, at the ends of which are two switch-points 5 and 6, pivoted on pins 7 and provided with rigidly attached pins 8 which are employed as operating levers. Track 1 is also provided with a Y comprising two curved tracks 9 which meet at 10. At the points where said tracks 9 branch from track 1, are two switch-points 11 and 12, pivoted onpins 7 and having operating levers8. The other straight track 2 is provided with a short siding 13, at the ends of which are two switch-points 14 and 15, pivoted on pins 7 and having operating levers 8. Track 2 is also provided with a short section 16, rotatably mounted upon a pin 17, and representing a turn-table. A circular disk 18 may be secured to the under side of the track section 16, as shown.

In regard to the construction of the tracks, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction shown in the drawings and hereinafterdescribed, as many modifications thereof within the scope of the appended claims may be employed without affecting the operation of the device.

In the construction shown I employ a base frame consisting of angle-bars 19, secured together in pairs in any preferred manner, with their lateral flanges at the top, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. Secured to said lateral flanges are pairs of 2 bars 20, which form the tracks. The crossbars 3 at the ends of the tracks appear as integral with the anglebars 19, but 'in'construction they will be made separate and secured thereto in any suitable manner. The sidings 4 and 13 are supported by curved angle-bars 19 and 19 Angle-bar 19 of siding 4 may be connected to angle-bar 19 of track 2 by a brace 21, but not necessarily so. The Y is supported by curved angle-bars 19 meeting at 22, and secured to angle-bar 19 of track 1 at 23 and 24. The switch-levers 8 project through slots 25 out in the trackbars 20, as shown in Fig. 4. The switchpivots 7 are supported by three plates 26, 27 and 28, which are rigidly supported by upright brackets 29, as shown in Fig. 10, se-

cured to the track flanges. But said plates may be otherwise supported if so referred. Said plates 26, 27 and 28 practical y fill the spaces between the'tracks and their sidings, and enhance the appearance of the model. The pivot pin 17 upon which the reversible track-section 16 turns, passes through the circular plate 18 and into a hole drilled into the base member 1919. This pin may be in the form of a screw, as shown. The tracksection 16 is secured to plate 18 with screws 29 or in any preferred manner.

The cars are represented by blocks 30, of any suitable material. Each is formed with a depending flange 30 provided with a pair of lateral flanges 31. The depending flange passes freely between the upper trackflanges, and upward removal of the cars is prevented by the lateral flanges 31 engaging the lower sides of said track-flanges.

The locomotives, 32, (Fig. 2) are formed roughly to imitate the general form of a loco motive, and like the cars, are provided with pairs of lateral flanges 31 for preventing derailment. The cars and locomotives are unprovided with coupling means, but in operating or moving the cars the usual couplings are imagined. For example, a car must not be moved without a movement of one of the locomotives suitable for producing the movement of the car. The cars and the locomotives may be moved along the tracks to any desired point, and switched to right or left according to the positions of the switches. One or more of the cars, marked in Fig. 2, are supposed to be cabooses. Preferably, about eighteen cars are employed, and they should be of different colors thus,

for example, six red, six yellow and six white.

A few of the puzzles which may be worked out with this apparatus are briefly stated, as follows:

Puzzle No. 1. Three letters, A, B and C, are stamped upon the triangular plate 26. Place a car at A, one at B, and one at C; also, an engine and one caboose outside of either switch. Proposed: that this engine turn around and head in the opposite direction, having the caboose behind it, and must leave each of the three cars on the Y in their former location. Engine to be moved in conjunction with each car moved.

Puzzle No. 2. Two trains, of four cars, engine, and caboose, meet at turn-table; they pass each other using turn-table only; and make up again in the same form as when they met. 4

Puzzle N o. 3. Use the long siding. Make up a train of an engine, four cars and caboose, at east end of main track. (1.) Place twelve cars, three different colors, on the siding, the four cars of each color together. Proposed: Conductor of train has orders to pick up the middle four cars on siding, into his train, and to set out the four cars in his train in the same place on siding from which he took the four cars. Engine not to move more than four cars at any one move.

Puzzle No. 4. Use the short siding. Make up two trains consisting of engine, four cars, same color, and caboose. One train at each end of the siding, headed towards each other. Siding is not long enough to hold either train. Proposed: that they pass each other by sawing by on the siding.

The object of the player is not only to comply with all of the conditions above set forth, but is to bring the pieces to their final positions by the fewest possible moves. Thus, several persons may solve the problem, and the one who does so by the smallest number of moves, wins. In this manner the ap aratus may be considered a game, as well as a puzzle. It is also very useful for giving instructions in railroad yard work to yardmasters, switchmen, engineers or other employees.

An unlimited number of problems with the cars and engines may be invented and solved, if possible, by the use of this device.

I repeat that I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, as obvious modifications will occur to persons of mechanical ability.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. In a railway game apparatus, the combination with a base, of a main track mounted thereon, a siding track having its ends joined to the main track, two curved tracks having one set of ends joined to the main track, the other set of ends meeting at right angles to the main track, thus forming, with the main track, a Y, and a plurality of devices representing cars longitudinally movable from end to end of the main track and divertible each from the main to any one of the other tracks, each of said devices having means for engaging the track upon which it is mounted to prevent the upward removal of the device from the track.

2. In a railway game apparatus, the combination with a base, of a main track mounted thereon, a siding track having its ends joined to the main track, two curved tracks having one set of ends joined to the main track and the other set of ends meeting at right angles to the main track, thus forming, with the main track, a Y, switches connecting the main track with the connecting ends of the other tracks, and a plurality of devices representing cars movable lengthwise from end to end of the main track and divertible therefrom to any one of the other tracks, each device having means for engaging the track upon which it is mounted to prevent the u ward removal of said device from the trac 3. In a railway game apparatus, the combination with a base, of a main track and a siding track mounted thereon, the siding track having its ends joined to the main track and the main track having a horizontally rotatable reversible section forming a turn-table, and a plurality of devices representing cars movable lengthwise from end to end on the main track and divertible therefrom to the siding track at either end thereof, each of said devices having means for engaging the track upon which it is mounted to revent the u ward removal of the device om the trac 4. In a railway game apparatus, the combination with a base, of a main'track and a siding track mounted thereon, the siding track having its ends joined to the main track and the main track having a horizontally rotatable reversible section forming a turn-table, switches for connecting the ends of the siding with the main track, and a plurality of devices representing cars movable lengthwise from end to end upon the main track and divertible therefrom to the siding track at either end thereof, each of said devices having means for engaging the track upon which it is mounted to revent the upward removal 15 of the device from the track.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. BARNES. Witnesses:

J. B. MILLER, BERT GARDNER. 

